The Six Nations is over and the big opportunities for players to stake their Lions claims are gone.

While some big club games remain, particularly in Europe, Warren Gatland has largely been given all the evidence he needs over the past couple of months.

Here, our rugby writers set about picking their Lions starting XVs to take on New Zealand based on what they've seen.

Mark Orders

This Lions team has pace and panache in the backline and power and leaders up front.

One player, Richard Hibbard, has received the nod despite playing no part in the Six Nations that has just finished.

He has been picked on the strength of excellent form for Gloucester. Ken Owens had a largely impressive Six Nations, notwithstanding that the finale with France was tough for the entire Wales front row, but no other hooker has consistently caught the eye.

Hibbard offers the kind of physicality, impact and unflinching commitment that no other hooker in the British Isles has – and he has experience of a Lions tour.

Richard Hibbard

The two Welsh flankers, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric, are named as they have been consistently impressive, while Stuart Hogg holds off Liam Williams in a flick-of-a-coin call, one that could be reversed if Hogg’s defence proves flaky.

It is a team loaded with quality.

But my guess is New Zealand would still prove good enough to win a home series against them, possibly by three Tests to nil. The All Blacks are just a cut above.

Rob Lloyd

Despite their worst Six Nations finish in a decade, I'm still backing Wales to provide a sizeable contingent to this summer's Lions tour with five players - George North, Liam Williams, Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton - making my starting Test XV, with Jones as skipper.

North has shown over the last two matches signs of returning to to the force of old, sparked into life by his post-Murrayfield warning.

There will be arguments for Tommy Seymour, Jack Nowell and Elliot Daly, but I haven't seen any Home Nations player better than Liam Williams out wide over the last seven weeks.

Ireland’s half-backs - Murray and Sexton

Rhys Webb is unfortunate to miss out, he had an outstanding tournament, but the Sexton-Murray partnership is pivotal to Ireland's game and the pair have an understanding that could prove crucial in such pivotal positions.

There is plenty of experience up front with power and dynamism in a formidable back five and I find a place for both CJ Stander and Sam Warburton, who nicks the No. 7 jersey off his compatriot Justin Tipuric.

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Delme Parfitt

At full-back I have kept faith with the tried and trusted Leigh Halfpenny on the basis that he has to be in the side for his goalkicking (yes, even though Sexton and Farrell are in as well).

At hooker Ken Owens is unfortunate to miss out to an Englishman, but the Englishman is Jamie George who I think is twice the player his captain Dylan Hartley is.

Can Gatland ignore Leigh Halfpenny's kicking prowess?

For me the partnership between Rhys Webb, who edges out Conor Murray, and Jonny Sexton is particularly exciting. Forget preserving national partnerships, this one is too good not to go with.

Finally a word for the back row. It has a beautuiful balance to it in my view and encapsulates all the skills you need in the department. And faletau has to be No.8, regardless of his lack of Six Nations game-time.

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Anthony Woolford

What a job Warren Gatland has on his hands as my head is spinning Uini Atonio-style just coming up with a Test team on an email.

It could be any 15 from about 40 players who could think they're not only in with a chance of making the tour but a starting spot in the three-Test series with the back-to-back world champions All Blacks.

Jonathan Joseph (Image: Getty Images)

In the end I've gone with a blend of some derring-do from England's backs with the best of Ireland, Scotland and Wales thrown in for good measure and a beefy pack to test a possible chink in New Zealand's armour up front.

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Matt Southcombe

A desperately difficult selection after what has been an engrossing Six Nations Championship. Hogg's attacking threat gets the nod of Leigh Halfpenny's right foot.

Watson has enough credit in the bank despite missing a chunk of the tournament through injury and North's performance against Ireland gets him in, he also had New Zealand very concerned in the first Test last summer before a hamstring injury.

I considered selecting Robbie Henshaw and 12 and moving Farrell to 10 to beef up the backline but Sexton has varied his game better than any other in this Championship and had to the nod a fly-half.

Owen Farrell of England

The back five of the scrum is incredibly competitive. Tough to separate a plethora of second rows but the work-rate of Jones and Launchbury gets them the nod.

Couldn't leave Warburton or Tipuric out of the team based on their form in this Championship. Stander unlucky but was very well handled when I had my closest look at him in Cardiff.

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Simon Thomas

It was the midfield and the back five of the scrum I found the toughest to decide upon when picking this Test team.

In the end, it was a case of considering which players simply had to be in the side.

One of the first names on the team-sheet is Owen Farrell, who has proven himself such a match-winner over the last couple of years and there was an argument for letting him call the shots in his club position at 10, with Robbie Henshaw at inside centre.

Ireland's Robbie Henshaw (centre) (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire.)

But the way Johnny Sexton ran the show in Dublin on Saturday, proving he’s as tough as old boots in the process, means he has to be in the side too, so Farrell stays in his international spot of 12.

Rhys Webb has staked a real claim for the scrum-half berth during the Championship, but Conor Murray still just edges it for me, making it an all-Irish half-back pairing.

Up front, I had to find a place for Maro Itoje and I feel he’s at his best at lock. His athleticism and dynamism is just what the Lions will need in the second row against the All Blacks and with Joe Launchbury’s form also demanding inclusion, I find myself making the hard call of omitting Alun Wyn Jones.

In the back row, I was sorely tempted to go with Peter O’Mahony at six after his immense Man of the Match display against England, with CJ Stander going to 8, while the dual openside option of Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric also has real appeal.

But, in the end, I’ve gone for the ball-carrying of Billy Vunipola, while Stander and Warburton have to be on board.